DJI Phantom Questions

These are just opinions - but firstly, the 2-D gimbal should do fine in most cases. It may be that the 3D beats it in conditions with more wind, vibration, etc - so it always depends on your schedule. That is, if you have to shoot video of a certain place and time without waiting for better conditions, a better gimbal may be in order. But, in any case, a complete gimbal could likely be easily sold and then replaced with an upgrade, so you can hardly go wrong if the price is right. All quad pilots need experience and practice, so chalk a lot of your initial stuff up to learning the ropes.

The same somewhat applies to the end product - the video. Even the Mobius ($80) takes some impressive HD video. In fact, I doubt (given the right conditions) many people could tell it apart from any but the top-of-the-line GoPro Black. I think one big diff of the top end GP is even higher def video - something very few people need.

I'm a believer in using the right tool for the job.

Of course, if you really want or need the fully integrated package, you cannot beat the P2 Vision+ (see our new review). Even a bargain on a plain P2 is still going to cost you as much or more by the time you get done with FPV, telemetry and complete and proper setup. Then again, you may end up using your P2 plain for stills and/or for a backup machine - you can't have too many quadcopters!

Here is a story by a DJI employee who fools around with photo and video (and is paid for it!) - about the biggest still cam you can easily mount on the P2
http://skypixel.org/post/73583365467

I just returned my P2+ test model to DJI....although I could have bought it from them. I flew my stock Phantom 1 today and really still enjoy it because it's a platform for me to experiment and learn on. IF I was getting paid for photo and video or really doing that for my "art", I would have bought it because it allows one to ply their craft without getting in the way as much (not as much adjustment, setup, custom, etc.) as other rigs.

Hope that helps a little bit...

 

If you buy a GoPro for it you have to add FPV (monitoring, first person view), which can be somewhat complicated and the results can vary. Many GoPro users, in fact, suggest against it and use a separate cam (cheapo analog) for FPV. Of course, that will not frame a shot correctly.

Also, without modification, the P2 will not have telemetry, which means your screen will not display stuff like the altitude, battery life and a lot of other info. You will also not have Ground Station - autonomous waypoint flying - with the P2 without some upgrades and fiddling around.

So it's not a question of what you get - the P2 is a great machine. It's a question of knowing what you don't get! Realistically, nothing else on the market crams the amount of features in - at the price - as the P2+.

I had high hopes for some other quads (3DR Iris), but many are finding out that it's harder than thought to design, build and configure these for folks who aren't technically orientated.

 

OK so he has the ground station stuff.....so you don't have to add it.
That ground station, I think, is more capable than the one with the Vision+
You really need an ipad to take advantage of this part....or a PC (not android?)
http://www.dji.com/product/2-4g-bluetooth-datalink

So you don't really need the Fatshark IMHO because you can't use googles and a screen at the same time.

So, in theory, it's a used - but a bit more capable (if you have ipad and once you probably connect everything - and I'm not sure what you need extra to broadcast the GP signal back to the ipad), vs. a system which is totally RTF.

You can watch some of the videos and see if they show a GoPro and the FPV link:
http://www.dji.com/product/ipad-ground-station/video

Again, the right tool for the job. The little bit of waypoint flying I did showed me - that for my videos - I prefer manual control. Only in a very large open area and relatively high flight would I use waypoints as anything other than a demo or fun.

Hate to repeat myself, but it's what you don't get that can be important. For example, waypoint flying would be neat if the quad had both obstacle avoidance and ground following capability (usually sonar). But these don't.

There are always improvements to be had.
I'd say the P2+ is the ticket if you want to get right to work. But if you want those few extra features and don't mind (and are very capable of) spending a lot of time on various forums and with the products to get them all tuned up, then the other is a possibility - especially if you want the Fatshark for some other reason or for two-pilot us (not sure how this is done, but I suspect it's a possibility).

 

They both are built on the same platform - but the P2V+ is ready to fly with FPV, Ground Station and an app with camera control, etc - while the regular P2 need not only the camera, but other accessories and interfaces to achieve the same result. Most P2 H3 buyers would end up spending quite a bit more money than the Vision+ because of these things - BUT, they can end up with a better system. Example, a P2 with the more advanced iPad ground station and a Hero 3+ Black with all the right accessories and connections can take better video than the P2V+, BUT the total package including a couple batteries, iPad, etc. is usually about $2500.

So it's a matter of whether you want or need those extra ground station features and better video...if not, the P2V+ gives you something ready to go at almost 1/2 the cost.

 

Flyaways, IMHO, are not much to worry about. Statistically, it is very unlikely to happen - the vast majority were/are operator error of some sort or small problems turned larger...DJI has even addressed many of those over the years....

As far as DJI service, maybe you should email them and ask what your responsibility would be if you needed to have warranty work done.

You actually need quite a bit of equipment to fully set up the thing as you mentioned....I know that sounds strange because you have the cam and the quad comes with the gimbal - but you need FPV as well as their bluetooth module and OSD (telemetry, on screen display), etc....

I don't have the equipment list off the top of my head, but just to give yo an example what is involved, see these full systems - it usually costs $2500 (with the GoPro)....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1052150-REG/dji_phantom_2_fpv_turnkey.html
http://www.ezdrone.com/product/dji-phantom-2-cinepro-3d/
http://www.dslrpros.com/dslrpros-products/dslr-drone-kits.html

So - it's crazy - but the P2V+ costs a lot less even if you have the GoPro. BUT, the full maxed out P2 has more capabilities (a better ground station waypoint program on the ipad, etc.).

It's not plug and play - that's for sure.

 

OK......

Wifi - you don't need any wifi INTERNET connection of any type to operate this craft.
GPS - Basic GPS functions are also not part of the internet.

Let's talk WiFi - what is being done with the Phantom is to establish your own little wifi network consisting of your phone, the repeater on the TX and the Phantom. This allows for control and FPV, etc.

In terms of GPS, this data comes from space and is sent to your Phantom and interpreted. It also does not require either cell service or a live internet connection.

You are correct that some features may work better with live internet (cell phone) - but I think this is just for the google map downloading (mostly). You can download google maps and they are stored in your phone or tablet, eliminating this need. As an example, my Nexus 7 tablet works as a car GPS even though it is not hooked to anything other than the satellites.
https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/3273567?hl=en&rd=1

The no-fly zones also don't seem to depend on cell phone service. DJI does intentionally disable waypoint flying in some zones - cell service or not. Again, I think this stuff is tied into the GPS - not anything updated from the internet.

 

"GoPro Hero 3 onto the P2V+"???
I assume you mean putting it onto a bare P2?? The Visions already have a cam and FPV.

I think the equipment depends on exactly what you want in the end...

Here are some ideas:

http://skypixel.org/post/74923352573

The basics are that you need the:
FPV cable out of the GoPro - maybe something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/FpvFocus-Gopro-FPV-Video-Output/dp/B00FUTBDC0

Then you need the TX for that video to beam it to the ground:
http://www.rangevideo.com/58-ghz/10-tx5200m-58ghz-200mw-5v-transmitter-module.html

Then you need a receiver and monitor for at the ground to see it:
http://www.rangevideo.com/lcd-screen/55-black-pearl-7-hd-lcd-screen-fpv-diversity-rx-58ghz-32ch-slim-design.html

In fact, my suggestion would be to call or email Range Video and they can put together all three for you and make sure you have what you need.